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PRAYER
Kindness grows in my heart.
The beloved presence of God lives in my heart. In God's home, there is only peace, love and kindness. Today my heart overflows with loving-kindness toward myself and others. No matter what appears to be, my heart brims with compassion, and I realize that the Divine Presence is right here right now.
In this expansion of kindness, love grows and I am released from the constraints of the human ego. I am set free from any negative emotion or feeling that has ever troubled me. My heart and soul are filled with the loving power of God as I express joy, peace and compassion.
Giving kindness expands the love in my life and my light in the world. My words, thoughts and actions are the result of the compassion in my heart.
Today, I celebrate the quality of loving-kindness and I give thanks.
-- And so it is! |
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A Recipe for Love
The ancient practice of metta is the main ingredient in developing loving relationships and world peace.
IN THE MOVIE EAT, PRAY, LOVE, LIZ DIVORCES HER HUSBAND, LEAVES HER LOVER AND TRAVELS THE WORLD SEEKING SELF-REALIZATION. What struck me about this film was the recurring theme of men falling madly in love with Liz wherever she went. Her husband, for example, contested their divorce. The younger man Liz had an affair with was devastated when she left for Italy. Finally, a debonair Brazilian factory owner fell head over heels in love with her. Although this Brazilian man was handsome, sensitive and romantic, Liz almost walked away. Why? Because she was afraid a relationship would prevent her from keeping her balance. It would, she thought, interfere with her spiritual growth. Seeking direction, Liz asked her wise friend, the medicine man, for advice. The kind-hearted medicine man assured Liz that she could have love and balance at the same time.
How many of us hold back in a relationship because we think that someone will rob us of our individuality? Or we think we will lose our balance, lose part of ourselves or become spiritually stunted by our partners?
You will not become less spiritual by inter-personal relationships. These relationships, by contrast, offer opportunities to practice spiritual principles in a way that could not be accomplished if you were cloistered away on a mountaintop seeking enlightenment. Relationships are fertile ground for practicing spiritual principles such as forgiveness, gratitude, self-less service and unconditional love. Equally important, they give us the avenue to practice loving-kindness -- a key to developing loving relationships and for establishing world peace.
In the Buddhist tradition, it's called metta. Quite simply, this means loving-kindness as well as friendliness, benevolence and non-violence. The Pali word metta has two meanings. One is the word for gentle. Friend is the other root meaning of the word metta. Think of your relationships as a chance to practice metta -- to be a good friend to yourself and others. Often we berate and criticize ourselves, but would never treat a friend that way. A friend's love is eternal. A friend offers us support when we have a dream or help when we are in need. A friend offers a soft place to land when we are scared or challenged.
The practice of metta helps us become a good friend to ourselves and others by releasing negative energy. All negative emotions can be met with loving-kindness and the energy transformed. Basically, practicing metta allows us to let go of resentment, grudges and bitterness and seek the well-being and happiness of other people. We are devoid of self-interest, which is the foundation of unconditionally loving relationships. Because metta releases hate, anger, bitterness, greed and selfishness from our subconscious minds, the practice results in freedom of the mind and allows us to be more compassionate and loving.
This gentle energy of love transforms negative energy and alleviates suffering. No matter what has happened in our lives, who has seemingly betrayed us, what suffering we have lived through, what our worries are, the ability to practice loving-kindness is always present as the changeless part of our divinity. Practicing loving-kindness towards others and ourselves is the basis for world peace. Albert Schweitzer said, "Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate."
When practicing metta, we release the need to hold onto pain resulting in a great healing. The human ego keeps us trapped in the web of human suffering that stems from lack of forgiveness or maintaining resentments, grudges and negativity. By shifting our consciousness and infusing our hearts with loving-kindness, we rise to a higher vibration. We develop a deeper connection with God whom we were never separated from to begin with.
Cultivating this gentle form of loving-kindness creates an opening for grace in our lives. Our hearts are filled with love and light as the angels and heavens rejoice. Ask yourself if there is anyone or any situation that you holding onto in anger or pain. Then take a moment to breathe deeply and gently recite phrases of good for yourself first and then for others (much like affirmations).
Repeat phrases such as:
May I be happy
May I be free from negativity
May I be awake to the Divine Presence within.
Next choose someone to offer metta to. It c
ould be someone you have no history with, for example, an individual that you pass on the street. Or it could be a loved one, someone who has hurt you, or someone you need to forgive. Keep in mind that when we offer forgiveness, we are not saying that what happened was right nor are we condoning the action or denying what occurred. Rather, we are opening the floodgates of our souls to allow ourselves to replace pain with compassion and to release ourselves from the effects of negative patterns. In this
way, we allow God's light to rush in and fill the space that was previously occupied by suffering.
If you are comfortable with practicing metta for someone you were in conflict with, start by envisioning that person in your mind's eye and state:
May you be free from negativity
May you awaken to the Divine Presence within.
Once you finish this practice, simply sit quietly and offer loving-kindness to other people or the Earth and the animals.
So the next time you shy away from love because you are afraid of losing your balance, remember that relationships are one of the best forums for spiritual practice such as loving-kindness. Much like a tight rose bud unfolding in the summer sun, the gentle practice of metta opens the heart to its full capacity to love yielding unbounded joy and a deepened connection with the one heart, one life, one love, which is God.
Once you start savoring the delights of metta, you'll work up an appetite for more. So go ahead. Indulge. Eat, pray and love with gusto. You might not end up with a dashing Brazilian tycoon, but you will find joy like you have never known before. Bon appetite! |
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Live Your Joy Coaching Special
Now's the time to take advantage of fall coaching specials. Save on coaching packages with Barbara Gulbranson, author of Live Your Joy: How to Awaken from Spiritual Slumber and How to Attract Your Soul Mate: The Secrets of Lasting Love.
Whether you are seeking coaching for relationships, finances, health, career or expansion of consciousness, spiritual coaching empowers you to make life-affirming change. Each intuitive coaching session opens with a message from your angels. Then we apply proven spiritual practices to guide you on your life's journey. We close with a personalized Spiritual Mind Treatment, and prayer continues for you during the week.
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 Live Your Joy Workshops and Classes
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The five keys to living in deep abiding joy no matter what is going on around you
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How to identify and answer your spiritual calling
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To live in the Infinite Bliss state of consciousness
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How to Reveal Your Divine Nature
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To identify and banish the JOY ZAPPERS for good!
LOCATIONS
Live Your Joy -- the five-week accredited class -- is coming to Elkhart, IN soon. Dates and times to be announced.
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Fall Reading List
Live Your Joy: How to Awaken from Spiritual Slumber
by Barbara Gulbranson by Monarch Press
Paperback 
List Price: $14.95
Our Price: $12.58 Buy Now
How to Attract Your Soul Mate: The Secrets of Lasting Love
by Barbara Gulbranson by Monarch Press
Paperback
List Price: $12.95
Our Price: $10.67 Buy Now |
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As I give, I am richly blessed.
A CONSCIOUSNESS OF PROSPERITY opens us up to receiving greater good in all areas of our lives. Since Live Your Joy Institute is funded largely by donations, we are deeply grateful for your financial gifts. If the work of our ministry touches your heart or inspires you, you may support us with a tax-deductible donation.
Live Your Joy Institute is a non-profit organization, a church without walls that depends on donations to publish this newsletter and to continue with an educational ministry. You may send gifts to: Live Your Joy Institute, PO Box 1045, Granger, IN 46530. THANK YOU. |
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